Replacing your scratched and scarred cover is like giving a fresh paint job to your iPod Nano. Nano covers come in a variety of colors and designs, allowing you to update your iPod to match your style. You can replace the cover in a few steps. All you'll need is a small flat-head screwdriver and a piece of thin hard plastic such as a guitar pick or small paint scraper to use as a wedge.
Remove the Back Cover
Slip the wedge between the two pieces of the cover and run it along the edges to loosen the casing. You can tape the edges of the iPod Nano cover to reduce the chances of scratching it in case you want to reuse it.
Pry the back cover off with the wedge. You might need to separate the casing with the wedge to prop the casing open and the screwdriver to pry the pieces apart. Perform this step as gently as possible so as not to disturb the inner wiring.
Disconnect the Hard Drive
Remove the battery from the hard drive by gently popping it off the board with the screwdriver or wedge. The battery will be connected to the hard drive by wires, so be careful not to tear them. Place the battery to the side of the hard drive. If you are uncomfortable working around the battery wires, you can disconnect the battery completely by pinching the top of the connector holding the wires to the battery.
Unscrew the hard drive from the front cover. There are four screws, three near the base of the hard drive near the synch port and one in the middle of the board on the left. If the screws are covered by tape, remove it. Removal of the tape will not affect the Nano's performance.
Disconnect the Front Cover
Flip the Nano over and gently lift the cover up from the base. You will see a ribbon connecting the hard drive to the front cover. Slide the black piece next to where the ribbon is connected to the hard drive--this will release the ribbon from the front cover, which you can now remove.
Put the Nano Back Together
Connect the new cover to the Nano's hard drive by connecting the ribbon to the hard drive and sliding the black piece into place. Flip the Nano over and screw the hard drive back onto the front cover.
Reconnect the battery wires if you disconnected them earlier. Replace the battery in its hard-drive bay and press down to snap it into place. Place the new back cover over the hard drive and lock the two pieces together by pressing them firmly together.
Tags: hard drive, back cover, battery wires, black piece, connected hard, Flip Nano, Flip Nano over